Off the field, he is known for his brilliance in the sciences, his atrociousness in video games, and his fondness for beach volleyball, paintballing and four-wheeling. But there’s nothing that sophomore running back Cody Ratermann loves more than knocking defenders to the ground on Saturdays for the Washington University football team.

As the Bears prepare for their second playoff appearance in school history this Saturday, the team will be counting on Ratermann to shoulder most of the carries against No. 20 Franklin College. Ratermann has moved from linebacker to become the Bears’ primary ballcarrier alongside freshman Austin Smestad.

Majoring in anthropology as a pre-medical school student, Ratermann played linebacker for the Bears as a freshman and in the first few games of this season. While Ratermann enjoyed making hard hits on special teams and defense, his limited playing time as linebacker in high school kept him skeptical of his playmaking ability on the field.

“It was really weird coming into college when [head coach Larry Kindbom] asked me to play defense,” Ratermann said. “I’ve played running back for most of my football career and only played three games as linebacker during my senior year of high school. But Coach seemed confident that it would work out, so I just went with it. I’ve really only made three big plays as a linebacker.”

Like in any other season in football, the Red and Green suffered injuries that required other players to step up their games. The Bears found themselves in particularly short supply of running backs after senior John Hagemann and sophomore Mitchell Shelby were lost three weeks into the season. Concerned with depth, Kindbom looked to Ratermann as a solution.

“When Coach asked me about switching to running back, I was just really concerned with how well I would do since I hadn’t run the ball for over a year,” Ratermann said. “I really didn’t know if I would be able to learn the offense in time, and I didn’t know if I was fast enough since I was so focused in on strength rather than speed for defense.”

When two more running backs—junior Zach Lonneman and sophomore Alex Graham—went down with season-ending injuries, Ratermann had no choice but to accept his increased workload and keep the running game alive for the Red and Green. His efforts haven’t disappointed as he has racked up 409 yards on 84 carries and scored six touchdowns in seven games this season.

“When he came over to the offense, it was pretty impressive how he just picked it up all within a matter of a few days and started contributing immediately,” senior offensive lineman Jon Levin said. “He’s really been able to shoulder a lot of the load for us.”

Against Case Western Reserve University on Nov. 9, Ratermann had his career-best performance, breaking the 100-yard mark for the first time with 110 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries.

“In some ways, I see my running style as being similar to [St. Louis Rams running back] Zac Stacy,” Ratermann said. “Like Stacy, I’m really not a big guy and exceptionally fast, but I try to be shifty and use the power that I have to make quick, hard hits that usually help me get enough yards on every run.”

Ratermann was born and raised in Damiansville, Ill., a small town of 400 people that consists of one main road with three streets, a bar and a church. While he enjoyed watching all sports as a kid, he had a strong affinity for soccer until the fifth grade, when his father got him to try out for football late in the summer.

“My father played football in high school, so he really wanted me to play, which took some convincing because I really wasn’t fond of football,” he said. “I felt that my height and size put me at a disadvantage, but I ended up loving it and quitting soccer after one season.”

Throughout his years in middle school and high school, Ratermann played running back and discovered his ability to shake off painful hits and the toughness to play with injuries. For example, after breaking part of his spine on a screen play during his senior year, Ratermann was back playing within two weeks even though he should have been sidelined for six to eight weeks.

“I had this huge pillow wrapped around me, and I remember taking eight Ibuprofens before the game,” he said. “It just shows how much I enjoy the game. I was so determined to finish the season strong, and I think it turned out pretty well.”

While his most recent position switch from linebacker to running back at first was seen as temporary, Ratermann’s performance has led to Kindbom’s decision to make the change permanent. Ratermann said he wouldn’t mind being moved back to linebacker as long as he receives playing time.

“I love football, and I don’t know what I would do without it,” Ratermann said. “I enjoy playing and being out there with the guys. Being able to stay on offense would be a lot of fun for me, and I feel really comfortable with my current situation.”

With additional reporting by Alex Leichenger.